The fall is upon us and one of the activities that has not been stymied by current events and the state of the world is scenic driving. Fall is prime time to drive through forests of color changing trees and beautiful sunsets. Winter is usually considered the most dangerous season to drive in because of rain and snow, but Fall has its own unique hazards to watch out for. Here are some safety tips to keep you and your family unharmed during this beautiful season.
1. Wet leaves can be as slippery as ice. You should avoid braking hard on wet leaves because you can lose control of the vehicle. Leaves on the ground can also hide the painted lines on the road, be sure to look for road markers and stay in your lane.
2. Every morning the sun glares into my rearview mirror when driving west. This will probably continue to occur until the time change. The sun just happens to be in the perfect spot to blind me on my way to work right now. You can avoid this by flipping the rearview mirror up (or down in some vehicles) to change the way light passes through it. You can also alter the time you leave home to get to work earlier or later to avoid the harsh sun. A good pair of sunglasses can also cut down on sun glare, but make sure they aren’t too dark to see the road and signs as well. Losing sight of the road, even for just a second, is very dangerous.
3. Deer, Moose, Elk, and other artiodactyla start their mating season in the Fall. They will be more active during this time. You need to be extra watchful at sunrise and sunset. These animals are quite large and aggressive during mating season. They can do a lot of damage to a vehicle and cause injuries to you and your passengers. Never confront an artiodactyla in the road, wait for it to move out of the way on its own.
4. When temperature changes outside, the recommended tire pressure changes as well. Check your vehicle’s manual to find out what the appropriate tire pressure should be in the cooler Fall temperatures. Your tires are the most important part of your car because they are your connection to the road. You should visually inspect your tires before every long trip and take the car in to a tire shop to be checked out if you see anything wrong.
5. Coming into the rainy season it is important to have windshield wipers that work well. Over the summer, wipers do not get much use. They can dry out and become brittle or inflexible. Test your windshield wipers and make sure they can do the job they need to BEFORE it starts to rain regularly. Like with being blinded by sun glare, losing sight of the road in front of you is extremely dangerous.
We hope this list helps you enjoy the coming season to the best of your ability. It is no fun to be stuck in the house due to injury.
Need advice? Feel you have a potential personal injury case? Contact Laskin Balma Attorneys at Law in Sacramento California today.